Temple's top 2012 news stories

In the final week of December 2012, Temple's official Twitter feed, @TempleUniv, celebrated the end of a busy year by counting down the top Temple-related news stories. Below is a recap:

10. Anderson Cooper comes to Temple

After receiving the Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Award at a ceremony in Mitten Hall on Oct. 18, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper spent an hour answering students' questions, balancing stories of covering the revolution in Egypt and rape victims in the Congo with references to Lady Gaga and Honey Boo Boo. "Shouldn’t you be studying?" he asked. "I hope you at least get credit for this." [Read more and view video]

9. Temple-commissioned orchestral works earn GRAMMY nominations

It's rare for a college ensemble to earn a GRAMMY nomination; earning two may be unprecedented. A pair of works commissioned by Temple's Boyer College of Music and Dance and performed by the Temple University Symphony Orchestra were nominated for "Best Instrumental Composition" GRAMMYs, earning a front-page story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.[Read more]

8. Tech licensing revenues explode

Licensing revenue from Temple-created technologies has increased more than six-fold since fiscal year 2010 to nearly $2.5 million in the fiscal year that closed June 30. Boosted by a commercialization agreement between a local biopharmaceutical company and a global healthcare company involving a university-created cancer therapeutic, licensing revenue is projected to surpass $13 million. [Read More]

7. Matt Rhule named new football coach

After searching far and wide, Temple Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw said that he had found "the perfect person to take the Temple football program to the next level" — Matt Rhule of the New York Giants, a former Temple assistant who Bradshaw called "one of the top young minds in the profession." At the press conference announcing his hire, Temple met Rhule's secret weapon: His son and future ball boy, Bryant. [Read more and view video]

6. The rise (and naming) of Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan Hall

The newest addition to the Philadelphia skyline is Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan Hall, the state-of-the-art residence hall and dining complex currently under construction at the corner of North Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore. The gleaming, 27-story structure was topped off this summer and named for Temple trustee Morgan and his wife in October. Lucky first residents will move in next fall. [Read more and view video]

Temple took dramatic steps to position itself as a national leader in reducing student debt. This fall, the university kicked off a campaign to raise $100 million within five years to help students pay for their education — the largest fundraising effort devoted solely to student scholarships in Temple's history. (We'll ask too: Scholarships change lives; give now!)[Read story]

4. The Temple community takes on Hurricane Sandy

We were lucky. The storm that devastated lower Manhattan, erased portions of the Jersey shore and left hundreds of thousands in the dark created far less damage in Philadelphia and at Temple. We know that now, but we didn't know that in late October when Sandy was bearing down on us. During those frightening days, the Temple community — students, staff, alumni, parents and others — came together to prepare for the worst and support each other.[Read story]

3. The Temple Made marketing campaign catches fire

You've seen those two words at train stations, on TV ads and projected onto buildings at the biggest party Main Campus has ever seen: Temple Made. The university's new marketing campaign — a celebration of Temple pride, achievement, energy and creativity — launched this summer and has captured the imagination of students and alumni across the nation.[Read story and alumna's blog]

2. Temple trustees announce base tuition freeze for 2012-13

On June 27, Temple University took a bold step, announcing a freeze on base tuition for in-state and out-of-state undergraduate students enrolled for the 2012-13 academic year. "Rising student debt is one of the major issues facing this nation today. Temple is committed to being a national leader in the effort to offer an affordable quality education," said Patrick J. O'Connor, chair of Temple's Board of Trustees.[Read story and view video]

1. Neil Theobald named Temple's 10th president

On Aug. 6, Temple University's Board of Trustees approved Neil Theobald, formerly senior vice president and chief financial officer at Indiana University, as Temple's 10th president (he assumed office this week). Theobald made his mission clear in meetings with Temple students, faculty and staff this summer: hold down the cost of tuition, ramp up financial aid, raise funds and push the importance of high quality academics. "We need to hit the ground running in January," he said. We're ready.[Meet the president]